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New York Jets: 7-Round 2018 mock draft in mid-February

By Michael Pallas

Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images
Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images /
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STILLWATER, OK – OCTOBER 1 : Punter Michael Dickson #13 of the Texas Longhorns kicks during the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys October 1, 2016 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys defeated the Longhorns 49-31. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK – OCTOBER 1 : Punter Michael Dickson #13 of the Texas Longhorns kicks during the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys October 1, 2016 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys defeated the Longhorns 49-31. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

Many (if not all) of you are probably reading this thinking, “A punter in the fourth round? This guy is insane!” Normally, I’d be right there with you, and in fact, when I saw some mocks having him go in the fourth round, I was right there with you. Let’s examine the insanity of this first. Even one scout, according to his NFL.com draft profile feels the same.

"“I don’t get excited about punters, but I love this guy. It’s not a stretch that Texas could produce the best kicker (Justin Tucker) and punter in the league at the same time.” — NFC team regional scout"

Very few positions in all of sports can have stats directly tell you how well they will be in the pros like a punter’s stats. Even in the NFL, very few punts are close to getting blocked. So, the ability of the rush to get there shouldn’t affect the punter’s numbers from college to the NFL.

When you compare Dickson’s numbers at Texas to NFL punters in 2017, the statistical comparison is mind-boggling. Only six NFL punters had a higher gross punting average than Dickson. His net punt average would’ve been third in the NFL, and the difference between his net and gross average would’ve been third lowest in the league. The 33 fair catches he forced would’ve been the best in the NFL, and finally, the 50 percent rate of punts inside the 20 would’ve been an NFL best.

Special teams is an often forgotten about phase of the game, and the Jets were terrible. Adding a punter like Dickson will help the Jets with the field position game, and help the defense keep their opponents off the board in 2018.

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